Spring coiling machine



Dec. 18, 1962 Filed Feb. 24, 1959 FlG.i

C. R. BERGEVIN SPRING COILING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 8 CHARLESRBERGEVIN BY {m Wm M A T TORNEVS Dec. 18, 1962 Filed Feb. 24, 1959 c. R. BERGEVIN 3,068,927

SPRING COILING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLESRBERGEV/N ATTORNFVS United States Patent G F 3,068,927 SPRENG COILlNG MACEHNE Charles R. Bergevin, Torrington, Conn, assignor to The Torrington Manufacturing Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 794,927 7 Claims. (Cl. 153-2) The invention relates to a spring cut-off mechanism adapted to be included in or used with aspring coiling machine of the type wherein the wire is fed against a coiling abutment which serves to coil said wire around a normally fixed arbor to form a spring. After completion of the spring feeding is interrupted and the wire is cut to sever the completed spring. Spring coiling machines of the type set forth are disclosedin Patent No. 2,119,002 to Bergevin et al., and in the copending application of Edward E. Franks, In, Serial No. 752,7 28, filed August4, 1958, now Patent No. 3,009,505.

The general object of the invention is to provide-in or for amachine of the stated type, a detachable tool mechanism which includes an improved cut-off device adapted to cut the final coil of a spring or cuts a ring at the top of the arbor. In a cutting mechanism such as commonly used in a' machine of the type described in the Bergevin et al. Patent No. 2,119,002, it is necessary that the diameter of the arbor be onlyslightly smaller than the inside diameter of the spring, so that the coil will not be distorted by the cutter. This necessitates changing arbors for relatively small changes in the diameters of the springs. Further, the-maximum diameter-of springs that can be made is limitedby the available amount of movement andadjustment of the cutting-tool. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to use onesize of arbor for a wide range of spring diameters. a i

. A more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine'having a detachable mechanism wherein it is possible to increase the range of diameters of the springs that can be made with any given machine;

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine having a detachable mechanism wherein it is possible to obtain aradial or square cut in the cutting ofeach spring, no matter what the diameter of the spring may be.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine having a detachable mechanism wherein the travel of the cutting tool is reduced to an absolute minimum and thus permit higher production speeds. v

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine having a detachable mechanism wherein it is unnecessary to change the position of .the cutting tool when changing from one spring diameter to another. I

i The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a spring coiling machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a' fragmentary plan view with the rocker heads omitted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary left end view with the coiling abutment and associated parts omitted.

' only the frontframe member 12 is shown.

3,068,927 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 ice FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the tool mechanism to which the invention more particularly relates.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the tool mechanism with the pitch tool and its stem omitted.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 1, but showing the wire cutting tool in its lower cutting position. FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tool mechanism taken along the line Iii-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 1, but showing an alternative tool mechanism adapted for the coiling and cutting of left-hand springs.

The illustrated machine comprises front and rear upright frame members mounted on a suitable base, but The various wire feeding and coiling devices are mounted on the front frame member 12, and; the several mechanisms for operating-said devices; are mounted at the rear of said member 12.- The machine is cyclically operable, one

spring being completed and cut off during each cycle.

A suitable means is located at the front of said frame 12 and is operable-during eahc cycle forfeed-ing a wire W in a horizontal longitudinal direction and to a predetermined-extent.' As shown, the wire isfed toward'the left and along the front of the framemember, the-wire being'initially guided bya guide 14. As the wire 'is fed, it is engaged by wire coiling tools-or devices as here-- inafter described in detail. Preferably, the wire feeding means comprises at least one pair of cooperating rotative feed rolls such as 16 and 1% carried by shafts 20 and 22. The feed rolls when rotated in the directions indicated serve to feed the wire toward the left. Upper and lower wire guides 23, 24 are provided between the feed rolls 16, 1.8 and the coiling device, these guides being carried by spacers 25 and 26.

- The feed rolls i6, 18 are shown as provided with pairsof registering annular grooves 27 for receivingthe wire, and preferably two or more pairs of grooves areprovided-for wires of different sizes.

1, shown in FIG. 4, there being threepairs of grooves with the larger grooves at the rear. The guides 24 and 26 have wire grooves 28 similar to the grooves 27. When changing from one wire size to another with the utilization of different grooves 27, it is necessary to replaceone set of guides 24, 26 byanother 'set grooved for the different wire size.

As the wire W is fed forwardly, that is, toward the left as viewed in FIG. 1, it passes over or under an arbor 29 and it is forced against a coiling abutment 30 which, according toits position, deflects the wire downwardly or upwardly. The abutment is spaced in the feeding direction from the arbor, and the wire is coiled around the arbor to produce either aright or a left-hand spring. The arbor 29 and the coiling abutment 31) are shown below the line of wire feeding and the wire is deflected downwardly around the arbor for a right-hand spring S. The length of each coiled spring, such as S, is determined by the extent of wire feeding, that is, by the extent of rotation of the feed rolls. In accordance with cus tomary practice, mechanism is provided for successively rotating the feed rolls to accurately predetermined extents. At the termination of each rotation of the feed rolls, a suitable mechanism acts to cut off the completed spring.

The spacing of the coiling point abutment 30 from the The A grooves 27 are] arbor 20 determines the diameter of the springs to be coiled, and said coiling abutment is preferably adjustable toward or from said arbor. As shown, the coiling abutment 30 is carried by a slide 31 which is horizontally movable on the frame member 12. A manually operable screw 32 limits movement of the slide 31 toward the left. The coiling abutment 30 is detachably connected with an arm 33 which is apertured to receive a bushing 34 on a stud 35 projecting forwardly from the slide 31. The arm and the abutment are adjustable upwardly or downwardly about the axis of the stud to raise or lower the abutment.

The arm 33 has a groove within which is located a holder 36, said holder being pivotally movable about the axis of a pin 37. The coiling abutment 30 is secured to the holder 36 by means of a plate 38 and bolts 39'. The holder 36 and the abutment 30 may be adjusted about the axis of the pin 37 to align the abutment with the selected wire grooves. The holder and abutment are so adjustable by means of screws 40' and 41. The arm 33 is adjustable upwardly or downwardly about the axis of the stud 34, being so adjustable by means of screws 42 and 44 carried by lugs on the slide 31. For right-hand springs the coiling abutment must be below the line of wire feeding as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, or for lefthand springs the coiling abutment must be above the line of wire feeding as shown in FIG. 11.

The tool mechanism to which the invention more particularly relates is shown in FIGS. l to 3 in assembled relationship with other elements, and it is shown separately in FIGS. 7 and 8. Said tool mechanism has a holder which carries other parts, said holder preferably including a shank 46 which is adapted to extend into and fit a hole in the frame member 12. A suitable device indicat-. ed generally at 48 is provided for clamping the shank 46 to hold the tool mechanism in fixed position. When the holder has a shank such as 46 it also includes an integral flange 49 at the front end of the shank.

Preferably, the flange 49 is provided with a notch 50 in the periphery thereof which is utilized to positively prevent any rotative movement of the tool mechanism. The spacer 25 which carries the upper guide 23 has an extension 51 which enters and fits the notch 50, as clearly shown in FIGS. and 6. As is apparent in FIG. 6, the upper guide 23 is notched at the top and bottom thereof so that its rear portion enters the notch 50 without fitting it. Preferably the notch 50 in the flange 49 is extended rearwardly through the shank 46 as clearly shown at 50" in FIG. 8. This permits the holder and the parts carried thereby to be removed or replaced with the parts 51 and 23 in place.

The before-mentioned arbor 29 is preferably formed integrally with a stem 52, and the holder 46, 49 is provided with a hole for receiving said stem. A set screw 54 is provided for engaging the stem 52 to hold the arbor in fixed position with respect to the holder. The arbor 29 may have and ordinarily does have a diameter different from that of the stem 52, and in any event the arbor 29 is so located with respect to the stem 52 that the top of said arbor is approximately tangent to the wire W as it is fed and as it is guided by the upper guide 23. As shown, the arbor 29 is much smaller than the stem 52, but the arbor diameter can be widely varied according to requirements. One arbor device may be easily replaced by another. The selected arbor diameter is somewhat dependent on the diameter of the springs that are to be coiled, but the relationship between the arbor diameter and the spring diameter is much less critical than it ordinarily would be without the present invention.

For a purpose to be stated, the outer or front portion of the arbor 29 has a vertical flat face 55 in a plane through the arbor axis. The face 55 terminates at a transverse vertical face 56, the two faces forming a notch as best shown in FIG. 10. The arbor 29 preferably has a cylindrical portion 57 behind said notch.

The holder 46, 49 of the tool mechanism has a hole therein for a stem 58 which carries a pitch tool 59, the

.tool being connected with the stem by a screw 60. The

lower guide 24 is shorter than the upper guide 23 so as to provide space for said pitch tool. The stem may be adjusted to a position wherein the pitch tool 59 engages the wire as it is coiled so as to provide a required spacing or pitch between coils.

A spring coiling machine of the type to which this invention is applicable is provided with upper and lower rockshafts 62 and 64 which carry tool heads 66 and 68. By means of suitable connecting mechanism, the rockshafts and tool heads are movable in unison and respectively in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions. The last said mechanism is not herein shown, but it is shown in detail in said Patent No. 2,119,002. An adjustable screw stop 69 limits movement of the upper tool head in the clockwise direction. By means of the said connecting mechanism, said screw stop 69 also limits movement of the lower tool head in the counterclockwise direction. The machine is so timed that the heads are moved as stated immediately after rotation of the feed rolls has stopped. The tool heads are formed respectively with grooves 70 and 72 adapted to receive cutting tools, not shown. When the mechanism of the present invention is not utilized, a cutting tool is secured to the lower head 68 for cutting off right-hand springs after completion, or a cutting tool is secured to the upper head 66 for cutting off left-hand springs after completion.

The coiling abutment 30 may be moved during the coiling of each spring to vary the diameter, and the pitch tool 59 may be moved during the coiling of each spring to vary the pitch. The mechanisms for somoving the coiling abutment and the pitch tool do not of themselves constitute part of the present invention. The said mechanisms may be constructed as shown and described in said Patent No. 2,119,002, or in said copending application Serial No. 752,728.

In accordance with the present invention, the flange 49 of the holder for the tool mechanism is provided with a vertical guideway in which a slide 74 is vertically movable. The slide 74 is biased to an initial position and as shown the initial position is the uppermost position. As shown, the slide is so biased by a coil spring 76 which is supported at its lower end by a plate 78 secured to said flange 49 The left end of the plate 78 is entered in a groove in a downward extension 80 of the flange and the plate is held near its right end by a screw 82. A suitable stop, not shown, limits upward movement of the slide 74.

A cutting tool 84 is detachably secured to the slide 74, being held by a plate 86 and bolts 88. The cutting tool is inclined downwardly and toward the right, and the lower right corner of the tool constitutes a cutting edge which is positioned to align with and face toward one edge of the vertical flat face 55 of the arbor 29, the last said edge constituting a cutting edge at the level of the path of wire feeding. The rear face of the cutting tool preferably aligns with the face 56 of the arbor.

The slide 74 is exposed at one end for engagement by a means for moving it in opposition to its bias and out of its said initial position. Said means for moving the slide is shown as being a pressure bar 90 secured to the upper head 66, said bar being in the groove 70' which was originally intended for a cutting tool. The bar 90 engages the top face of the slide 74, and said slide and said tool 84 are moved downwardly when the head 66 is moved as before described.

The entire tool mechanism is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly so as to bring the cylindrical portion 57 of the arbor 29 into register with the selected grooves of the several grooves 27 in the feed rolls. In order to facilitate such adjustment, the flange 49 is provided with a notch 92. A screw 94 having integral shoulders thereon is entered in the notch and is threaded into the frame member 12. With the clamping device 48 released, the screw 94 may be turned to move the tool mechanism forwardly or rearwardly as required.

When the several parts are properly adjusted to register with the selected set of wire grooves 27 and also to provide the desired spring diameter and the desired pitch, a spring S is coiled during each feeding action, that is, during each rotation of the feed rolls. Immediately after each feeding action, the head 66 is rocked to move the slide 74 downwardly in opposition to the spring 76. As the slide is moved downwardly, the cutting tool 84 is moved into engagement with the arbor 29 at the upper edge of the vertical face 55. FIG. 9 shows the slide and tool in their lower positions, the completed spring having been cut off. However, at least one coil S of the next following spring remains.

Referring particularly to FIG. l0, it will be observed that cut-off has been effected at a position such that at least one complete coil remains in place, this coil or coils being the first coil or coils of the next following spring, The coil shown in FIG. 10 is in engagement with the coiling abutment St? and the coiling of the next following spring is resumed upon the resumption of wire feeding.

The last coil of the completed springs, irrespective of spring diameter, is in engagment with the arbor 29 at the top thereof as shown in FIG. 1, that is, at the cutting edge on the arbor which is at the level of the path of feeding. Cutting is effected by the tool 84 at the top of the arbor and there is no tendency to distort either the completed spring or the next following spring as the result of the cutting action. This is in contrast with a spring coiling machine such as shown in said Patent No. 2,119,002 wherein cutting is effected at one side of the spring and not at the top thereof. When the'cutting is at one side, the coil to be cut is usually initially spaced from the arbor and said coil must be pushed toward and against the arbor to effect cutting. The pushing of the coil toward the arbor may permanently distort the coil, unless the arbor diameter is only slightly smaller than the spring diameter. This necessitates changing arbors for relatively small changes in the diameters of the springs. With a cutting mechanism embodying the present invention, there is no coil distortion during cutting and the coil or spring diameter may be much larger than the arbor diameter.

It will be observed that the cutter tool 84 always moves perpendicularly to the spring coil that is to be cut, this being so for all diameters of springs. The tool therefore always makes a radial or square cut. Furthermore, the range of travel of the tool 84 can always be the same, no changes being necessary on account of spring diameter.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative tool mechanism like that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 7 and 8, except that the several parts are positioned for cutting left-hand springs. An arbor 29 is located above the line of wire feeding, but it is otherwise similar to the arbor 29. A pitch tool 59 is located above the line of wire feeding, but it is otherwise similar to the pitch tool 59. The upper guide 23 is shorter than the lower guide 24* so as to provide space for the pitch tool 59 The coiling abutment St) is adjusted to a position above the line of wire feeding.

A slide 74 is provided which is similar to the slide 74 and is similarly supported and guided. The slide is biased downwardly by its spring 76. A cutting tool 84 is carried by the slide 74 and this tool is adapted to cooperate with the arbor 29 For moving the slide 74 there is provided a pressure bar 9t] which is similar to the bar '90 but which is secured to the lower tool head 68.

Except for the coiling of left-hand springs, such as S the action of the mechanism shown in FIG. 11 is or may be exactly like that of the previously described mechanism. Repetition is unnecessary.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a spring coiling machine, the combination of a main frame, feed rolls located at the front of said frame for intermittently feeding -a wire in a horizontal longitudinal direction, said feed rolls having therein a plurality of axially spaced pairs of registering annular wire grooves of different sizes, a holder detachably connected with the frame in fixed relation thereto, a generally cylindrical forwardly extending arbor secured to the holder and thereby held in a fixed position wherein its periphery is tangent to the path of wire feeding, said arbor being formed at the front portion thereof with a vertical flat face in a plane through its axis so as to provide a cutting edge at the level of said path of wire feeding, a coiling abutment spaced in the feeding direction from said arbor and constructed and arranged relative to the arbor and the path of wire feeding so as to engage wire during each feeding movement thereof and coil the same into a spring around the arbor with the cutting edge of said arbor in engagement with the wire, a slide guided on said detachable holder for vertical rectilinear movement relatively to the arbor which slide is biased for movement to an initial position, means on said slide for holding a cutting tool having a cutting edge aligned with and facing toward said cutting edge on the arbor when the slide is in its initial position, means operable after each wire feeding movement for moving the slide vertically in opposition to its bias and from its initial position so as to cause the cutting tool to cooperate with the arbor at said cutting edge thereof for cutting off the completed spring, and means for adjusting the holder forwardly or rearwardly to locate both the cutting tool on said slide and the cutting edge on said arbor in proper relationship with any selected pair of grooves in said feed rolls.

2. In a spring coiling machine, the combination of a main frame having a horizontal hole therein extending rearwardly from the front thereof, a holder including a shank entered and releasably held in said hole in the frame and also including a notched flange located at the front of the shank and extending transversely of the axis thereof, feed rolls located at the front of said frame for intermittently feeding a wire in a horizontal longitudinal direction, said feed rolls having therein a plurality of axially spaced pairs of registering annular wire grooves of different sizes, a generally cylindrical forwardly extending arbor secured to the flange of the holder and thereby held in a fixed position wherein its periphery is tangent to the path 'of wire feeding, said arbor being formed at the front portion thereof with a vertical flat face in a plane through its axis so as to provide a cutting edge at the level of said path of wire feeding, a coiling abutment spaced in the feeding direction from said arbor and constructed and arranged relative to the arbor and the path of wire feeding so as to engage wire during each feeding movement thereof and coil the same into a spring around the arbor with the cutting edge of said arbor in engagement with the wire, a slide guided on the flange of said holder for vertical rectilinear movement relatively to the arbor which slide is biased for movement to an initial position, means on said slide for holding a cutting tool having a cutting edge aligned with and facing toward said cutting edge on the arbor when the slide is in its initial position, means operable after each wire feeding movement for moving the slide vertically in opposition to its bias and from its initial position so as to cause the cutting tool to cooperate with the arbor at said cutting edge thereof for cutting off the completed spring, and a shouldered screw entered in a notch in said flange and threaded into the frame for adjusting the holder and all parts carried thereby forwardly or rearwardly to locate both the cutting tool on said slide and the cutting edge on said arbor in proper relationship with a selected pair of grooves in said feed rolls.

3. A spring coiling machine as set forth in claim 2,

V wherein the shank and the flange of said holder have a hole therein parallel with the axis of the shank, wherein a stem is provided in said hole, and wherein a pitch tool is carried by said stem at the front thereof and is movable forwardly and rearwardly with said holder.

4. A spring coiling machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flange of said holder has an additional notch in the periphery thereof, and wherein an element is provided on the frame which enters and fits said additional notch to prevent rotative movement of the holder about the axis of its shank.

5. A spring coiling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tool holding means on the slide is constructed and arranged to hold said tool in a position spaced forwardly from the line of wire feed so that upon said vertical movement of the slide said tool cuts off the complete spring at a forward position so as to leave at least one complete coil of the next following spring.

6. A spring coiling machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tool holding means on the slide is vertically above the coiling abutment.

7. A spring coiling machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the arbor is provided with a vertical face perpendicular to the first said face and at the leading side theerof, which faces form a notch, and wherein said tool holding means is constructed and arranged to hold said tool so that it enters and fits said notch upon said vertical movement of the slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,973,667 Sleeper Sept. 11, 1934 2,276,579 Halvorsen et a1 Mar. 17, 1942 2,662,597 Ballard et al Dec. 15, 1953 2,760,570 Reckhow Aug. 28, 1956 2,794,477 Sjohohm June 4, 1957 2,861,622 Bonde et al Nov. 25, 1958 

